While PlayStation fans have been revelling in quite possibly one of the most streamlined and welcoming iterations of Monster Hunter to date, Nintendo fans holding out for some portable action have been left wanting.

Clinging to fond memories of gathering around a friends living room, all off on the hunt together.Mixed bag of 3DS consoles at hand, excited to feel that rush again.

While not a brand new title, Capcom have looked to fix this death of Nintendo love with a re-release of 2015’s Monster Hunter Generations.

With some sharpened graphics, tweaked controls and a handful of additions can the original, rough-around-the-edges style appeal to those who’ve been living with all the modernist twists MH:World had to offer?

If you played the original release, you’ll know that Generations plays like a greatest hits of iterations gone by, bringing everything back into one clean package and that hasn’t changed.

This however means if Monster Hunter World is what got you into the series, this could be a serious shock to the system for you.

Not just visually, as clearly it would be churlish to expect the same graphical prowess between the PS4 and Nintendo Switch, but more so because you’ll feel Capcoms guiding hand far from yours in this original experience.

CAPCOM

Boasting 93 beasts to hunt, that’s 3 times the amount of quarry as MH:World has to offer, and bringing back the full stable of 14 weapons, each with their own tweaks and variations to plunder, there’s a lot on offer here.

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As you’d expect there’s a mixture of quests available that essentially revolve around either fetching amenities or ridding the world around you of beasts which offer useful rewards that eventually lead to better armour and weaponry, allowing you to take on tougher quests and bigger monsters.

Rinse and repeat ad nauseam.

Ultimate adds G-Rank quests to the mix which serve as the series endgame content, requiring you put some serious time into upgrading your armour sets and weapons before you can tackle these extremely difficult monsters with huge health bars and some crafty attacks up their scales.

With almost no story to speak of, it’s the world around you and the complex trial and error you’ll face trying to crack each beast while hunting, that will draw you into one of the most addictive switch games to date and keep you coming back for more.

As with all previous entries, the games menu systems are deep and require some commitment on behalf of players.

But with some work, perfecting the right load out before a hunt and keeping on top of the general day to days of being a questing Monster Hunter become second nature and the games nuances will eventually open up to you.

CAPCOM

While not much has changed on this outing, perhaps the biggest new feature is the addition of Hunting Arts and Styles.

Not to be confused with a new pop duo from One Directions member Harry Styles. Arts and Styles allow some deeper customisation in the way you battle and serve as a means to really pick up the pace in a streamlined manner.

From Adept, which rewards the brave, pushing you to stand your ground and dodge attacks at the last moment to Aerial which allows more fluid movement as you leap through the air. Hunter Styles offer a set for everyones play style. With Generations Ultimate adding 2 extra into the mix, in the form of Valor and Alchemy.

While Hunter Arts are essentially power moves which regenerate as you battle and offer unique chances to end the fight early or get out of sticky situations.

From last minute dodges, healing mists and temporary unlimited stamina to special ground slashes, timed explosives and more. You’ll find some linked to specific weapons while others are free to use no matter what you’re equipped with.

You’re limited to how many you can carry however so selecting just what you need again becomes part of the balancing act you’ll deal with as you prepare for each hunt.

They’re not a guaranteed strike either, as monsters can counter and dodge if you haven’t timed things just right, leaving you open for attack so don’t expect this addition to be an aspect of dumbing down at all.

Visually, while the graphics have had the expected tweaks and HD textures applied, it’s still at it’s core a 3DS game ported to the Nintendo Switch.

That’s not to say Ultimate doesn’t share some beautiful views and a charm of it’s own, more simply that it’s more about the experience offered and not the visual prowess on display.

CAPCOM

Perhaps the most enticing point here however is the ability to play with friends once more in each others company.

The joy of Monster Hunter for us has always been rallying around a friends living room, shouting for help or advice within ear shot and cheering as you toppled that pesky Gore Magala.

There’s online functionality packed in there too, so you’re never alone in the hunt.

Overall Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is a throw back to classic Monster Hunter games gone by, packing in more content than you could shake a Palico at. It’s portable, addictive and an absolute must for Switch players.